Hardware Replacement Disk Drive

[UpsideDownTaco]

So, I bought a replacement disk drive for my Wii since it hasn't read discs in 4-5 years, took it apart, put the drive in (I have re-put it in there a couple times just to make sure) and neither of the ribbons appear to be damaged and are in all the way, but when I try to read Wii disks, it will a: give me an error on the home screen b: give me an error after booting the disc or c: start it, give me the warning, then give me an error from the game itself (all three of the errors tell me to eject the disc and power the Wii off). It also makes a kinda unpleasant clicking noise while trying to read. It DOES, however, read Gamecube discs. The errors are consistent with each disc (it will happen every time). I looked at the drive itself while the wii was taken apart with the drive's top off, and it looks like the lens reads part of the disc, then fails to read a certain part and tries again over and over for around 30-45 seconds then gives me the error. The disc drive I bought was from ebay from a 5 star seller (I can't put the link since I'm new) (I got a refund for it since it wasn't working ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) The wii is hacked, if that would affect anything. I have cleaned the lens multiple times with a microfiber cloth, but to no avail. If there is a method for fixing it that isn't just "buy a new drive" I would prefer that, because I don't really want to spend money on fixing this, if possible. (also, this isn't the problem my older drive had, it just would say "unable to read disc" whenever you put one in after trying to read it for around 10 seconds)

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

Okay, it's been over a week, does nobody know how to solve my problem? This is getting really frustrating.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

I replaced the ribbon cable connected to it along with its power cable (both pulled from a working console) and that didn't make any difference. It's been 18 days, over 300 people have seen this thread, can somebody please respond?

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

It's been nearly 4 weeks. CAN SOMEBODY ACTUALLY RESPOND.

 

[Captain_N]

ok ill respond. The drive you bought is probably defective. The disc mechanism is cheap in wii drives. Since it reads gc discs the problem might be that the laser cant reach a certain distance to read the larger discs. I would buy another drive.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

ok ill respond. The drive you bought is probably defective. The disc mechanism is cheap in wii drives. Since it reads gc discs the problem might be that the laser cant reach a certain distance to read the larger discs. I would buy another drive.

I understand that it's defective, but I want to figure out what is defective and how to fix it.

 

[Roamin64]

Back in the PS2/Wii days , some lens were sold with a solder bridge you had to remove in order to get the lens to work. I have no idea about your case , but that could be it.

 

[Captain_N]

I understand that it's defective, but I want to figure out what is defective and how to fix it.

If the laser is actually good in the new drive maybe you can place it in the older drive. If the older drive is mechanically sound

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

If the laser is actually good in the new drive maybe you can place it in the older drive. If the older drive is mechanically sound

I think it is, because it still reads gamecube games. I'll try swapping it sometime soon.

EDIT: So I swapped them, but I accidentally broke some solder, so my brother is gonna help me (he knows how to solder, I don't) either Thursday or Sunday.

 

[Captain_N]

I think it is, because it still reads gamecube games. I'll try swapping it sometime soon.

EDIT: So I swapped them, but I accidentally broke some soldering, so my brother is gonna help me (he knows how to solder, I don't) either Thursday or Sunday.

hopefully it works after the solder. It easy to break parts on those drives.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

hopefully it works after the solder. It easy to break parts on those drives.

also, I took a look at the lens from the old drive and the ribbon cable was broken (a part looked like it had burned) so I'm pretty sure it'll work when I get the solder done.

 

[SonicMC]

If you have burned cables, you may have bigger issues. I once had an old pc mobo that when-ever I plugged in power supplies it would cause them to burn out... didn't keep that mobo long.
hopefully something isn't really broken on your system or you might need someone with the brains of Ben Heck to get it fixed. At that point probably cheaper to get a used entire wii from ebay; or forget using disks and go to usb loading instead.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

If you have burned cables, you may have bigger issues. I once had an old pc mobo that when-ever I plugged in power supplies it would cause them to burn out... didn't keep that mobo long.
hopefully something isn't really broken on your system or you might need someone with the brains of Ben Heck to get it fixed. At that point probably cheaper to get a used entire wii from ebay; or forget using disks and go to usb loading instead.

I do already use usb loaders, but I just wanted to get my discs working so that I didn't feel like they were entirely useless, and they're a little simpler. Also, I'm not sure if the burn was an actual burn or if it looks like that because the other side is black. I hope I don't have that problem because I'm trying to keep this wii alive, it was my first console and my family has had it since christmas 2006.

EDIT: I looked at it again, it's definitely not a burn.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

So, after the soldering, the discs go in and out, but the drive doesn't even try to spin the disc. There is no solder bridge, and as far as I know, all the ribbons are put in all the way in the correct locations.

 

[Sathya]

So, after the soldering, the discs go in and out, but the drive doesn't even try to spin the disc. There is no solder bridge, and as far as I know, all the ribbons are put in all the way in the correct locations.

i had the same problem too when i change the laser only. in earlier my wii cannot read disc anymore. After 1 year i try to open it, and clean the lens/laser with gentle wipe and water. and its work, but not in long time. so i try to change my laser, but after installing, the laser cant detect any disc.
then I returned my wii laser to the seller because they gave a guarantee.
actually when you turn on the wii, the laser will move back and forth to detect whether there is a disc or not. if he detects a disc there, then the laser will turn on (with a red light) and the disc will spin. but if the laser is damaged, dirty, or covered with dust, he cannot detect the disc there. so the disc will not spin.
Actually, now i play wii games with usbloader, but i still need my disc drive working to play CTGP.
I suggest to reopen the Wii laser and remove it. and try to look for bolts of very small size, just behind the wii lens laser. try to turn the bolt to the left half round. if it still can't work to read disc, try doing the same thing by turning it to the right (it will take effects to the laser will brighter) i hope its work for your problem. but if not solve the problems, try to search another wii disc drive replacement.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

So, all the ribbons are put in correctly, but there is one problem: the drive's boards are both different. They all have the same things, but in different locations. One big change is that the ribbon cable on the lens from the new is smaller. So, when I put that in, it's smaller than the ribbon cable holder thingy and doesn't work. I'm finally going to cave in and buy a new lens for the drive, basically everything possible has been tried to make this work to no avail. Thank you everybody who helped, and I'll get back to you all when I get the new lens.

EDIT: So another wire came off and my brother wont help me fix it so I'm getting my own soldering kit and fixing it myself.

 

[Sathya]

So, all the ribbons are put in correctly, but there is one problem: the drive's boards are both different. They all have the same things, but in different locations. One big change is that the ribbon cable on the lens from the new is smaller. So, when I put that in, it's smaller than the ribbon cable holder thingy and doesn't work. I'm finally going to cave in and buy a new lens for the drive, basically everything possible has been tried to make this work to no avail. Thank you everybody who helped, and I'll get back to you all when I get the new lens.

wait, if you have a wii under 2009 maybe the laser is different with wii after 2009. Because wii console from 2006 until december 2009, can read a wii game from burning disc with neogamma only, no modchip. But wii after 2009 cant read wii games from burning disc, so we must have a mod chip. and i think the laser are different in both type of wii console.

 

[UpsideDownTaco]

Sooo I got the lens, put it in, broke some solder, fixed it, and now the drive will not spin disks. All the ribbon cables are put in correctly, the lens is compatible with the drive, I loosened the three torque screws below the middle motor, removed the anti-static solder ball from the lens' ribbon, etc., etc., and CANNOT for the life of me get it to spin on its own. If I move the disk with my finger, it moves fine. All the solder is functioning.

 

[tbb043]

Back in the PS2/Wii days , some lens were sold with a solder bridge you had to remove in order to get the lens to work. I have no idea about your case , but that could be it.

Weird. thankfully I never had to deal with that when I replaced my PS2 lens!

 

[Sathya]

Sooo I got the lens, put it in, broke some solder, fixed it, and now the drive will not spin disks. All the ribbon cables are put in correctly, the lens is compatible with the drive, I loosened the three torque screws below the middle motor, removed the anti-static solder ball from the lens' ribbon, etc., etc., and CANNOT for the life of me get it to spin on its own. If I move the disk with my finger, it moves fine. All the solder is functioning.

please give your wii type. rvl 001 or rvl 101 and year when you buy it.